Civil servants in Antigua and Barbuda now have a formal channel to address workplace disputes, after Cabinet on Wednesday signed off on the country’s first official Civil Service Grievance Procedure.
The move comes more than a year after the government brought unions and associations to the table to design a fairer and more transparent system for resolving complaints.
That working group included the Nurses Association, Teachers Union, Police Welfare Association, Public Service Association, Meteorological Officers, and Air Traffic Control Officers, alongside officials from Labour, Legal Affairs, and the Establishment Department.
The framework lays out a clear process—beginning with direct talks between employees and their supervisors, escalating to written grievances, and, if necessary, review by an independent panel.
Importantly, it also guarantees the right of employees to have representation at any stage.
Cases involving senior officials such as Heads of Department or Permanent Secretaries will automatically be referred higher up, including to the Chief Establishment Officer.
Union leaders had long pressed for such a system, arguing that without formal rules, complaints often dragged on or went unresolved.
Government officials say the new framework will provide clarity and accountability, while preventing minor workplace disputes from escalating into strikes or industrial action.
The new procedure takes effect immediately and will apply across the public service.
Having a clear process will save a lot of headaches for both employees and management.
This could prevent a lot of unnecessary strikes and workplace tension. Smart move by the government.
Public servants are the laziest people on the workforce. What grevience? Plz..government need to file reports lf abuse against them
I hope it helps and it’s not a measure to further punish people who have grievances with their employer
A written framework is good, but culture matters too. If managers aren’t trained to handle disputes fairly, the process may just become another piece of bureaucracy
A grievance system is a step forward, but success depends on independence and transparency.
It’s encouraging that unions and associations were part of the design. But will they also have a seat at the table when grievances are reviewed
Dis one here could be a turning point for workplace fairness in Antigua and Barbuda, but only if it’s backed with resources, training, and accountability